As I scrolled through my Facebook news feed, I discovered the following artwork here, being shared by the page, “Boycott Mainstream Media,” and originally posted it to my own wall, along with commentary…
“The duty of youth is to challenge corruption.” – Kurt Cobain
My Commentary: Happy Birthday, Kurt Cobain.
I originally posted the following information and commentary onto my Facebook wall…
My Commentary: My husband and I just finished watching this highly informative documentary. Check it out, if you have some time!
Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood (2008):
http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/consuming-kids-the-commercialization-of-childhood-2008/
The following correspondence originally took place upon my Facebook wall, after I posted artwork being shared by an acquaintance from here…
Rayn:
“Maybe we should always show pictures. Bin Laden, pictures of our wounded service people, pictures of maimed innocent civilians. We can only make decisions about war if we see what war actually is – and not as a video game where bodies quickly disappear leaving behind a shiny gold coin.” – Jon Stewart
Diana B.: right. that’ll work!!! ppl who fight tribal wars, chop off heads and parts of babies, men, women and children need to see more pictures of dead people?! mmmk
Rayn: Jon Stewart is referring to America’s youth. It is impossible for the individuals you speak of “who fight tribal wars, chop off heads and parts of babies, men, women and children” to see war “as a video game where bodies quickly disappear leaving behind a shiny gold coin.”
Diana B.: yea, im not so sure most americans have that view of war, but i do think alot of kids have violent perceptions of the world due to whats on TV and in video games. thank Gd we cut our cable, best decision we ever made!
The following correspondence originally took place upon my Facebook wall…
“An Army of One”
Robert C.: some nice sobering American facts.
U.S.: Number of Mentally Ill in Prisons Quadrupled:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2006/09/05/us-number-mentally-ill-prisons-quadrupled
Rayn: Thanks for sharing this important news! History is pretty clear on this point: either protect all forms of innocence, or expect the eventually enslavement of all. “In as much as you have done in to one of the least of my brethren, you have done it unto me.”
These statistics remind me of America’s homeless figures, which I always keep handy. 20-25% of homeless individuals suffer from some severe form of mental illness:
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/Mental_Illness.pdf
In separate research studies, 25% of homeless were determined to be veterans of the armed forces:
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/veterans.html
Meanwhile, 39% of homeless individuals are minors – under the age of 18:
http://www.misd.net/homeless/statistics.htm
Although we might expect figures like these from a third-world nation, they represent one of the top ten wealthiest countries in the world! As an industrial nation, America’s stats are simply pathologically pathetic!
The following correspondence originally took place upon the Facebook wall of my friend, and fellow Autistic self-advocate, Jason Ross…
Jason R.: Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now:
https://open.spotify.com/track/2rKs3UV10xv1NAdVCQH4gm
Rayn: Amusingly enough, this was my favorite song when I was about seven years old, along with the movie “Mannequin,” which featured the song on the soundtrack. When I think about it now, it actually makes sense – I related to the mannequin! LOL! I wonder how many others on the Autistic Spectrum felt the same when they first saw it! (I think that’s why I loved the movie, “Splash,” as well) 🙂
